H&M sales high in July

Tuesday 18 August 2015 - Editorial Assistant

Swedish fashion brand H&M has posted its tenth consecutive month of double-digit growth, driven by website improvements and broadened home and beauty ranges.

The world’s second-largest clothing retailer said sales in local currencies rose by 16% in July, compared with the same time last year, beating the 12% growth predicted by analysts.

July’s sales surge is the highest H&M has recorded since August last year, when revenues jumped 19% in local currencies. The retailer has not seen a month of sales decline since March, when revenues dipped 4%.

RBC Capital Mar­kets analyst, Richard Cham­berlain, said: “Industry sales growth has been supportive and we think H&M is benefiting from its improved online offer, stronger seasonal sales and range extensions into areas like Home and Beauty.”

H&M, which is due to report its full third quarter update next month, said it had 3,649 stores as of July 31, compared to 3,314 a year ago.

It plans to open a net 400 stores by the end of the year and wants to roll-out its new H&M Beauty range to 900 stores in 40 markets and online.